Heating and lighting apparatus



' INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Jan. 23, 1968 w.1 BRYAN HEATING AND LIGHTINGAPPARATUS Filed April 15, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 WILLIAM L. BRYAN.

BY M% W/% M M, on H m z u G f 4 O 0 0 L m ovflo 4 2 0 a 0 m 6 f, 5 o o v0" n 6 Do 0 vw 000M 6 a 0 lltl 8 I 5 030 I! o 7 l \..O 1: on e w I II 000 NW 0 4 111 8 4 6 4 4 0 7 6 6 3 6 5 7- Q 1% Jan. 23, 1968 w. L. BRYAN3,364,914

HEATING AND vLIGHTING APPARATUS Filed April 15, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR WILLIAM L. BRYAN ATTORNEYS HEATING AND LIGHTING APPARATUS FiledApril 15, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

I O G! LL 2L 00 w w ZNVENTOR WILL/AM L. BRm/v jig/444 %w f United StatesPatent HEATENG AND LIGHTING APPARATUS Wiliiam L. Bryan, Cleveland, Ghio,assignor t0 Hupp Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of VirginiaContinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 420,365, Dec. 22, 1964.This application Apr. 15, 1966, Ser. No. 549,109

16 Claims. (Cl. 126-92) This application is a continuation-in-part of mycopending application Ser. No. 420,365, filed Dec. 22, 1964, entitled,Apparatus, which is now abandoned. The invention disclosed relates toinfrared generators and, more specifically, to gas-fired 1 infraredunits capable of generating heat and light energy combined or,alternatively, light energy only.

Copending application No. 306,658, filed Sept. 3, 1963, by K. E. Bauerfor Gas-Fired Infrared Burners and Heaters (hereinafter the Bauerapplication) discloses novel gas-fired infrared heaters in which thestability of the combustion process is not adversely affected by draftsor windy conditions. Such infrared heaters are, therefore, particularlywell suited for heating patios and other peopled outdoor areas.

It has now been surprisingly found that these infrared generators can bemodified so that they will emit an intense beam of radiant energy in thevisible light range (0.4 to 0.7;1.) as well as radiant energy in theinfrared portion of the spectrum most effective for area heating. Thisis an important discovery as such radiant units can now be utilized toboth heat and illuminate outdoor areas, completely eliminating the needfor a separate lighting system.

It is the primary object of the present invention to provide infraredgenerators capable of emitting radiant energy in both the infrared andvisible light portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.

Another important, related, and more specific object of the presentinvention is the provision of infrared generators of the general typedisclosed in the Bauer application which are capable of furnishing bothheat and light.

A still further object of this invention is to provide infraredgenerator units capable of producing heat and light with suitablecontrol means, whereby said units may be used selectively either as aheat and light source combined, or as a light source only.

A still further object of this invention is to provide combined infraredheat and light generating units in which variable levels of lightgeneration may be attained by selective modes of operation of the units.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention, by which these goalsare attained, consists basically of an infrared heater of the typedisclosed in the Bauer application, which is characterized by a novelinfrared generator including a frustoconical radiant member ofperforated sheet metal with an imperforate cap or battle which may beheated to incandescence by a combustible fuel mixture which flows fromthe interior of the radiant member through the perforations and burns onits outer surface. To increase the emitted energy to fuel consumptionratio and to protect the burning gases from disturbance by air currents,the Bauer infrared generators employ a novel sheet metal reradiatingassembly consisting of a cylindrical reradiator, one end of whichsurrounds the radiant member and the other end of which surrounds andsupports a conical reradiator which is axially aligned The term gas asused in the present application includes, in addition to fuel gases perse, combustible gases stored under pressure as liquids and liquids whichcan be vaporized for combustion in gaseous form.

with but spaced from the radiant member. A suitable reflectorconcentrates the emitted energy into a beam and projects it in thedesired direction.

In the present invention, a conventional sleeve type gas mantle is fixedto the frustoconical radiant member with the end of the radiant memberextending into the mantle; and an apertured cap is substituted for theimperforate bafile to effect a flow of the combustible mixture from theinterior of the radiant into the mantle. Energy made available by theburning of the combustible mixture within the mantle, together with partof the energy liberated from the combustible mixture burning on theouter surface of the radiant member, heats the mantle to a temperatureat which it emits an intense white light.

Also, in the present invention, the reradiator assembly is detachablyfixed to the radiant instead of being welded to it as in the Bauerapplication; and a mantle retaining fiange or the equivalent is formedon the baffle fixed to the radiant member. These innovations permit thereradiating assembly to be quickly removed for replacement of the mantlewhen necessary and permit the mantle to be easily fixed in its properposition on the radiant. However, as the mantle is surrounded andprotected from drafts and contact by foreign objects, it will have along useful life in contrast to prior applications of such mantles wherethey are exposed and short-lived because of their fragility.

From the foregoing brief description of a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, it will be apparent that further specific objects ofthe present invention include the provision of novel infrared generatorscapable of producing both heat and visible light which:

(1) Are suitable for outdoor operation even under extremely drafty orwindy conditions;

(2) Employ conventional gas mantles to convert heat into visible light;

(3) In conjunction with the preceding object, protect the mantle fromdamage by wind or contact with foreign objects;

(4) In conjunction with object (2) above, provide for ready replacementof the mantle; and

(5) In conjunction with object (2) above, do not require speciallyconstructed mantles or mantles of special materials, but can usestandard oif-the-shelf mantles;

(6) Are arranged for selective operation of the infrared generator witheither concurrent emission of heat and light, or the emission of lightonly.

Further objects of the present invention are the provision of infraredgenerators in accord with the foregoing objects which are compact,simple, attractive, trouble free, easy to use and service and have:

(1) A high heating capacity size ratio;

(2) A low manufacturing cost per unit of capacity;

(3) A high radiant efficiency;

(4) Rapid attainment of operating temperatures;

(5) High resistance to warping and other adverse temperat-ure changeinduced deterioration; and

'( 6 Easy replacement of the radiant element.

Additional objects, other advantages, and further novel features of thepresent invention will become more fully apparent by reference to theappended claims and as the following detailed description of preferredembodiments proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawing,

wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a post-mounted heating unit constructedin accordance with the present invention to supply both radiant heat andvisible light; FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the heating unit with certainparts broken away to show its internal construction;

FIGURE 3 is a section through the radiant heat and visible lightgenerator employed in the heating unit of FIGURE 1, taken substantiallyalong line 3-3 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a partial schematic showing of another heat and lightgenerator in accord with the principles of the present invention havingindependent gas line Supplies to the radiant area and to thepilot-mantle portion, with separate valves in each; and

FIGURE 5 is a partly sectional and partly schematic view of a furtherform of heat and light generator having independent gas line supplies tothe radiant area and to the pilot-mantle area with a commonmultiposition valve for controlling gas flow in various combinations.

Referring now to the drawing, FIGURE 1 shows a radiant heating andilluminating unit 16 constructed in accord with the principles of thepresent invention supported by trunnions 18 from a swivel bracket 20located on top of a tubular post 22 and provided with knurled knobs 23to retain it in the position to which it is adjusted. Gas is supplied toheating and illuminating unit 16 through a supply pipe 24 located insidehollow post 22 and extending to a valve 26 located in a post-mountedcontrol casing 28. From the valve, the gas passes through a pipe 30, aflexible conduit 32, and an elbow 34 to heating and illuminating unit 16Where it is mixed with air to form a combustible mixture. Specificstructure positioned in the aft portion of unit 16 for providing entryfor, entraining and mixing air with the gas is disclosed in the Bauerapplication and does not form a part of this invention.

Turning next to FIGURE 2, the combustible mixture of gas and air thusformed flows into the interior of a radiant unit 36 coupled to a radiantunit support plate by a quick-disconnect fastening arrangement (the lasttwo components, which are not shown, are described in detail in theBauer application) and comprised of a base ring 38, a sleeve 40, aradiant support ring 42, a radiant 44, a baflie 46, a reradiator sleeve48, and a conical reradiator cover 50, all made of stainless steel,Inconel, or other heat resistant metal. The enclosure bounded by basering 38, sleeve 40, ring 42, radiant 44, and bafile 46 forms adistribution chamber 52 for the gas-air mixture.

The gas-air mixture passes from distribution chamber 52 through theperforations in radiant 44 and burns adjacent the surface of the radiantremote from chamber 52 in a combustion zone 54. Baflle 46 and theconical shape of the radiant 44 contribute to the production of a stableuniform flame and to uniform distribution of heat to the reradiatingcomponents 48 and 50.

The principle function of the reradiator is to provide a large surfaceat a uniform high temperature, resulting in the conversion of a largepercentage of the heat of combustion to radiant energy, primarily in the1-12, range of wave lengths. In operation, the entire surface of thereradiator is heated to incandescence and may reach a temperatureseveral hundred degrees above that of the radiant.

Radiant heating and illuminating unit 16 also includes a reflector 56which, as shown in FIGURE 2, may be a bell-shaped member having aninternal reflecting surface approximating the shape of a paraboloid. Theaxis of symmetry of the reflector lies on the axis of symmetry ofradiant 44. The reflector is preferably formed of suitable aluminumalloy and may have either a matte or a polished interior surface.

The flow of gas to heating and illuminating unit 16 is controlled bymanipulation of the Valve 26 in control casing 28. The manual valve 26shown in FIGURE 1 may be replaced by any other suitable control unit;and the burner may be ignited manually or electrically by a spark from ahigh voltage circuit including the secondary winding of a transformerwhich may be housed in control casing 28.

The components of the radiant heating and illuminating unit 16 justdescribed are,,with the exceptions discussed below, identical to thoseemployed in the Bauer radiant heater and are discussed in more detail inthe Bauer application, to which reference may be had if desired. As suchdetails are not part of the present invention, it is not believednecessary to include them herein.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, the radiant heating and illuminating unit 16of the present invention differs from the radiant heater disclosed inthe Bauer application primarily by the addition of a sleeve type gasmantle 58 t0 radiant unit 36 to produce visible light (radiant energyprimarily in the 0.4 to 0.7, range of wave lengths) from the burninggases and the radiation emitting components of the radiant unit. Radiantheating and illuminating unit 16 also differs from the radiant heatingunit of the Bauer application by the employment of a differentconstruction of the baffle 46 at the end of radiant 44, by thelengthening of reradiator 48 to accommodate mantle 58, and by fasteningmeans identified byreference character 60 which permit the reradiator tobe quickly removed for access to mandle 58 when it is necessary toreplace the latter.

As shown in FIGURE 3, bafiie 46 is of frustoconical configuration andhas a laterally extending annular flange 62 around its lower edge and anaperture 64 through its top Wall 66. Baflle 46 is permanently fixed toradiant 44 as by spot welding.

Gas mantle 58 is a standard mantle of the sleeve type with a drawstring68 at its open end. Suitable mantles are available from Lighting Trades& Welsbach, Limited of London, England, although any other commerciallyavailable brand of mantle may be used, it being one of the importantfeatures of the present invention that neither a special configurationof mantle nor a mantle made of special materials is required.

Mantle 58 is attached to baflle 46 with its open end 70 facing radiant44 and with the mantle extending from the radiant toward conicalreradiator 50 by sliding the mantle down over flange 62 until drawstring68 passes the flange and then tightening the drawstring.

Depending upon the particular type of mantle employed, otherarrangements may be employed to assemble it in the radiant unit; and theconfiguration of baffle 46 may be varied to accommodate different typesof mantles and mantles with different types of attaching arrangements.Also, the flange 62 around the lower edge of baflle 46 need not becontinuous but may consist of a series of equiangularly spaced lips orprojections.

In the operation of unit 16, a portion of the combustible air-gasmixture flows from distribution chamber 52 through aperture 64 into theinterior of mantle 58 where it burns and heats the mantle. Additionalenergy is made available by the combustion between 44 and 48, and aportion of this is transferred to the mantle.

The mantle is thereby heated to a temperature at which it emits whitelight consisting primarily of radiant energy having a wave length in therange of 0.4 to 0.7 micron. The White light radiates through theapertures in radiators 48 and 50 and is concentrated and projected inthe desired direction by reflector 56 in the form of a beam of intensewhite light.

An undesirable characteristic of gas lamps and lanterns heretofore knownand employing gas mantles in that such mantles are extremely fragile andare destroyed by contact with foreign objects or even by strong draftsor wind.

In the present invention, however, this is not a problem because mantle58 is protected from strong winds and from contact with foreign objectsby reradiator sleeve 48 and the conical reradiator cover 50 which alsoprotect the combustion in zone 54 from disturbance by wind'or strongdrafts.

As mentioned briefly above, fastening means 60 are provided to permitready removal of reradiators 48 and 50 for replacement of mantle 58. Anydesired type of fastening means which will accomplish this may beemployed. The arrangement shown at 60 in the illustrated embodiment ofthe present invention consists simply of L-shaped or bayonet slots 72opening onto the upper edge 74 of sleeve 40 and screws 76 threaded intothe lower end of reradiator 48. Reradiators 48 and 50 are installed byaligning screws 76 with the vertical legs of slots 72, moving thereradiators toward sleeve 49 until screws 76 bottom in slots 72, andthen rotating the reradiators in a counterclockwise direction (as shownin FIGURE 2) until screws 76 reach the ends of the slots horizontallegs. Screws 76 may then be tightened, if desired, to retain thereradiators in place. Removal of reradiators 48 and 50 is accomplishedby loosening screws 76 (if they have been previously tightened) and thenremoving these components by reversing the sequence of steps justdescribed.

Radiant unit 36 can be quickly and easily removed to provide access toscrews 76; or the screws can be readily rotated with the radiant unitinstalled by using a rightangle screwdriver.

It is further contemplated that provision may be made for operation ofthe unit in such manner that only radiant energy in the visible spectrumis generated, i.e., efiective infrared heat is not generated. Forexample, an alternate fuel-air supply tube could be provided fordispensing a fuel mixture in limited amounts into the mantle forcombustion therein to provide illumination in a manner well known in theart, without developing substantial quantities of heat. Such alternateoperation, if maintained continuously, may serve as a pilot for theinfrared generator.

Structures designed to permit alternative operations are shownschematically in the modifications of FIGURES 4 and 5. FIGURE 4illustrates an arrangement in which gas to radiant 44 is supplied byline 78 containing a valve 80, while gas to the pilot and mantle issupplied by a separate line 82 incorporating valve 84. It will beobvious that this provides for independent, selective control of theinfrared generator with attendant heat and light generation or for lightgeneration by mantle 58 only.

FIGURE 5 illustrates a further modification wherein two separate gaslines 82' and 7 8' lead to the pilot-mantle assembly and to radiant 44,respectively, but wherein the gas flow is controlled by a singlemulti-position valve 86. As illustrated, the valve gate element 88 hastwo opposed blades 88' and 88'; the first of these cooperates with portsopening to lines 78 and 82' while the second blade 88" cooperates with athird port leading to gas inlet line 90.

With the gate valve in the position shown in FIGURE 5, gas is admittedinto the body of the valve and is free to flow, through line 82', to thepilot and the mantle light generator. In the next positioncounterclockwise, blade 88 shuts off flow to line 82' and opens line 78to radiant 44; in the following (third) counterclockwise position bothlines 82 and 78' are open, and gas flows to both the mantle 58 andradiant 44. Finally, in the fourth counterclockwise position, blade 88closes off the port at the gas inlet line 90, thereby shutting off theentire unit.

It will be understood that, in the first valve position (shown in FIG.5), combustible gas-air mixture may be burned within the mantle forillumination only; in the next, counterclockwise position, combustionwill take place at the radiant for combined heating and lightingeffects; in the third, counterclockwise valve position, combustion willtake place at the radiant and the mantle with augmented heating andlighting effects; in the fourth position, the unit will be shut off.

The relative spacing of the outlet ports to lines 78 and 82' and thelength of the blade 88 are such that, as the blade movescounterclockwise, the port at 78 begins to open before the port at 82 isfully closed. In this way, the pilot, if burning, tends to remain onlong enough to ignite the gas-air mixture to radiant 44 before it isfully shut off by blade 88.

The foregoing is but a representative arrangement of ports and blades,and other suitable sequencing of port closure may be provided within thescope of this disclosure.

The foregoing valve constructions of FIGURES 4 and 5 may be placedeither in series with valve 26 of FIG- URE l, or may displace thelatter. The separate valves 86 and 84 of FIGURE 4, or the combined valve86 of FIGURE 5, can be readily incorporated within the swiveled housingof the unit with the control knobs protiuding externally therefrom forready manipulation. Alternatively, the selectively operable valves maybe mounted on post 22 in place of valve 26 (FIGURE 1).

Three different levels of illumination are possible through selectivesetting of the control valves described above. The level of illuminationis the highest when gas is burned at the radiant as well as within themantle, lower when it is burned in the mantle only, and still lower whenburned at the radiant only.

From the foregoing detailed description of the preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, its advantages over the heating units disclosedin the Bauer application will be apparent. Further advantages of thepresent invention, which result from employing the same general type ofbasic unit as disclosed in the Bauer application, are a high heatingcapacitysize ratio, low manufacturing cost per unit of heating capacity,high radiant efiiciency, rapid obtainment of operating temperatures,high resistance to warping and other adverse temperature change induceddeterioration, and ease of replacement of component parts such as theradiant unit 36.

Another advantage obtained by use of the novel combination disclosedherein is an output of light having a greater intensity than heretoforedeveloped in the accustomed use of mantles; the increased luminescenceis explained in part by the subjection of the mantle to combustion andhot combustion products on both the inner and outer faces thereof.

Therefore, because of these added advantages, it is preferred that theradiant heating and illuminating units of the present invention employradiant heating units of the type disclosed in the Bauer application.This is not necessary, however, and other types of radiant heaters canbe provided with mantles, in accord with the principles of the presentinvention, to produce a combination of infrared heat and visible light.Exemplary of known radiant heaters which can be thus modified in accordwith the principles of the present invention are those employing ceramicradiants such as the well known Schwank radiant heaters disclosed in US.Patent No. 2,775,294 issued Dec. 25, 1956 to Gunter Schwank forRadiation Burners. The modification of Schwank and other radiant heatersin accord with the principles of the present invention, therefore, isfully intended to be covered by the appended claims except as expresslyexcluded therefrom.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departingfrom the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The presentembodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects asillustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention beingindicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoingdescription, and all changes which come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired Patent is:

1, A heating and lighting unit including means for generating radiantheat and visible light comprising: an apertured radiant member; meansfor forcing a combustible mixture of gas and air through the aperturesin said member to a combustion zone immediately adjacent the exteriorsurface of said member; an apertured reradiating member surrounding saidradiant member beyond the combustion zone; and a gas mantle disposed insaid reto be secured by Letters radiating member and fixed to saidradiant member, said radiant member having at least one apertureproviding fluid communication between the interior of said member andthe interior of the mantle.

2. The heating and lighting unit as defined in claim 1, including areflector surrounding said reradiator member.

3. The heating and lighting unit as defined in claim 1, wherein thereradiating member is cylindrical and has one end near an end of theradiant member, said unit further including a reradiating cover membernear the other end of the reradiating member.

4. The heating and lighting unit as defined in claim 3, wherein thereradiating cover member is an apertured cone with the apex of the coneinside the reradiating member.

5. The heating and lighting unit as defined in claim 1, wherein theradiant member is a truncated cone with the small end thereof extendinginto the mantle.

6. The heating and lighting unit of claim 1, together with support meansfor said heat and light generating means; swivel means mounting saidgenerating means on said support and permitting rotational movement ofthe generator relative to the support in two mutually perpendicularplanes; and a flexible gas supply line fixed at opposite ends to thegenerating means and the support.

7. A radiant unit for a heating and illumination unit, comprising: anelongated cylindrical reradiator; a frustoconical radiant concentricwith said reradiator, the upper base of said radiant being within thereradiator, and a gas mantle fixed relative to said radiant andextending therefrom toward the opposite end of the reradiator, theinteriors of the radiant and mantle being in fluid communication.

8. The radiant unit defined in claim 7, together with means removablyfixing the reradiator relative to the radiant.

9. The radiant unit as defined in claim 7, together with a radiantsupport ring surrounding the radiant and the end of the reradiator intowhich the radiant extends, the radiant being fixed to the support ring;and means for removably fastening the reradiator to the support ring.

10. The radiant unit as defined in claim 9, wherein the fastening meansincludes slots in the support ring and screws extending through saidslots into threaded engagement with the reradiator.

11. The radiant grid unit as defined in claim 7, together with afrustoconical bafile over the end of the radiant within the reradiatorbetween the radiant and the mantle, said bafiie having an aperture inits upper base providing fluid communication between the interiors ofthe mantle and the radiant and a mantle retaining flange around its freeedge.

12. The radiant unit as defined in claim 7, together with a conicalreradiator cover fixed to and surrounded by the reradiator at saidopposite end thereof, the apex of the reradiator cover being within thereradiator and spaced from the end of the mantle nearest said oppositereradiator end.

13. A heating and lighting unit of the gas-fired, radiant energygenerating type, comprising: a radiant member adapted to be heated toinfrared radiation emitting temperatures by the combustion of a portionof a gaseous fuel-air mixture; a mantle for receiving a second portionof the fuel-air mixture to produce radiation in the visible lightportion of the electromagnetic spectrum; and means for directing thefuel-air mixture to a first combustion zone in proximity to said radiantmember to produce said infrared radiation and thereafter said visibleradiation and to a second combustion zone inside the mantle to alsoproduce visible radiation therefrom.

14. A heating and lighting unit comprising a radiant unit as defined inclaim 13, together with means for concentrating the infrared radiationand the radiation in the visible light portion of the spectrum into abeam of desired configuration and projecting it in a selectivelyvariable direction.

15. A heating and lighting unit as defined in claim 13, together withselective controls for controlling the amount of fuel-air mixturesupplied to the mantle.

16. A heating and lighting unit of the gas-fired, radiant energygenerating types, comprising: a radiant adapted to be heated to infraredradiation emitting temperatures by the combustion of a gaseous fuel-airmixture; a mantle for converting a portion of the energy made availableby the combustion of the fuel-air mixture to radiation in the visiblelight portion of the electromagnetic spectrum; means for supplying thefuel-air mixture to the mantle for combustion therein; and manipulativevalve means for selectively controlling the flow of said mixture to theradiant and to the interior of the mantle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 738,968 9/1903 Wister 671011,506,964 9/ 1924 Antrim 126-92 1,852,154 4/1932 Drake et a1. 126921,981,976 11/1934 Wem 126-92 2,985,137 5/1961 Horne 126-92 3,217,70111/1965 Weiss 12692 3,245,458 4/ 1966 Patrick 12692 FOREIGN PATENTS 4240Great Britain. of 1884 JAMES W. WESTHAVER, Primary Examiner.

1. A HEATING AND LIGHTING UNIT INCLUDING MEANS FOR GENERATING RADIANTHEAT AND VISIBLE LIGHT COMPRISING: AN APERTURED RADIANT MEMBER; MEANSFOR FORCING A COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURE OF GAS AND AIR THROUGH THE APERTURESIN SAID MEMBER TO A COMBUSTION ZONE IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT THE EXTERIORSURFACE OF SAID MEMBER; AN APERTURED RERADIATING MEMBER SURROUNDING SAIDRADIANT MEMBER BEYOUND THE COMBUSTION ZONE; AND A GAS MANTLE DISPOSED INSAID RERADIATING MEMBER AND FIXED TO SAID RADIANT MEMBER, SAID RADIANTMEMBER HAVING AT LEAST ONE APERTURE PROVIDING FLUID COMMUNICATINGBETWEEN THE INTERIOR OF SAID MEMBER AND THE INTERIOR OF THE MANTLE.